Principles of Medical Ethics
relevant to the Role of Health Personnel, particularly
Physicians, in the Protection of Prisoners and Detainees
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment

Adopted by General Assembly resolution 37/194
of 18 December 1982

Principle 1

Health personnel, particularly
physicians, charged with the medical care of prisoners and
detainees have a duty to provide them with protection of
their physical and mental health and treatment of disease
of the same quality and standard as is afforded to those
who are not imprisoned or detained.

Principle 2

It is a gross contravention of medical
ethics, as well as an offence under applicable
international instruments, for health personnel,
particularly physicians, to engage, actively or passively,
in acts which constitute participation in, complicity in,
incitement to or attempts to commit torture or other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.<1>

Principle 3

It is a contravention of medical
ethics for health personnel, particularly physicians, to be
involved in any professional relationship with prisoners or
detainees the purpose of which is not solely to evaluate,
protect or improve their physical and mental health.

Principle 4

It is a contravention of medical
ethics for health personnel, particularly
physicians:

(a) To apply their knowledge and
skills in order to assist in the interrogation of prisoners
and detainees in a manner that may adversely affect the
physical or mental health or condition of such prisoners or
detainees and which is not in accordance with the relevant
international instruments; <2>

(b) To certify, or to participate
in the certification of, the fitness of prisoners or
detainees for any form of treatment or punishment that may
adversely affect their physical or mental health and which
is not in accordance with the relevant international
instruments, or to participate in any way in the infliction
of any such treatment or punishment which is not in
accordance with the relevant international
instruments.

Principle 5

It is a contravention of medical
ethics for health personnel, particularly physicians, to
participate in any procedure for restraining a prisoner or
detainee unless such a procedure is determined in
accordance with purely medical criteria as being necessary
for the protection of the physical or mental health or the
safety of the prisoner or detainee himself, of his fellow
prisoners or detainees, or of his guardians, and presents
no hazard to his physical or mental health.

Principle 6

There may be no derogation from the
foregoing principles on any ground whatsoever, including
public emergency.

Principles of Medical Ethics relevant to the Role of
Health Personnel, particularly Physicians, in the
Protection of Prisoners and Detainees against Torture and
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment. Adopted by General Assembly resolution
37/194 of 18 December 1982.